Combined air-operated projector and projectile



y 1966 v. J. BATTAGLIA COMBINED AIR-OPERATED PROJECTOR AND PROJECTILE Filed Nov. 4, 1963 INVENTOR. VALENTINE J. BATTAGLIA BY FULWIDER, PATTON,

RIEBER, LEE 8. UTECHT ATTORNEYS FIG. I

United States Patent 3,251,353 COMBINED AIR-OPERATED PROJECTOR AND PROJECTILE Valentine J. Battaglia, Mountain View, 'Calif., assignor of one-third each to Arthur I). Guy, Jr., Long Beach, and Fred F. Hansen, Boulder Creek, Calif.

Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,232 4 Claims. (Cl. 124-13) The present invention relates generally to'the field of toys and more particularly to a new and novel' projection device and projectile for use therewith.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a projection device and projectile therefor wherein air pressure produced manually in the projection device provides force for moving the projectile a considerable distance through the air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a projection device of the aforedescribed nature which has few working parts and is of simple and rugged construction whereby it may be economically manufactured and will provide a long and trouble-free service life.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a projection device and projectile therefor utilizing longitudinally slidably engaged inner and outer cylinders, with the inner cylinder being provided with a projection tube for the projectile and with novel 'bafi le means being interposed between the inner and outer cylinders whereby the speed of movement of air in the projectile tube is greater than in the cylinder thus imparting to the projectile maximum acceleration as the inner and outer cylinders undergo relative longitudinal movement.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a projection device and projectile therefor which may be manufactured from readily obtainable and inexpensive materials such as paperboard and synthet c plastic.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a projectile having a cavity in the head thereof to receive objects placed for transportation within said projectile.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the parts therein being shown in an extended position prior to launching of the projectile;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the parts in a telescoped condition with the projectile being shot into the air;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the lower end of the projection tube;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view taken party in central vertical cross-section showing a preferred form of projectile which may be utilized with the projecting device of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view showing a second form of projectile.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, a preferred form of projection device embodying the present invention includes an elongated outer cylinder 0 that is open at its top end and is provided with a closure 12 at its bottom end. The outer cylinder 0 longitudinally slidably receives an elongated inner cylinder I, with substantially the entire cylindrical outer surface of the inner cylinder I being simultaneously engageable with substantially the entire inner surface of the outer cylinder 0. This close sliding fit serves to provide an effective air seal between the inner and outer cylinders.

The inner cylinder I is provided with an upper closure 20 which may be of generally pointed configuration so as to enhance the appearance of the device as well as to provide a conveniently grasped surface for one hand of the operator. The closure 20 rigidly supports the upper portion of a vertically extending projection tube 22, said tube being concentric relative to the inner cylinder 1. The lower portion of the inner cylinder I is provided with a transversely extending, combined air baffie and rigid support element 24 for the lower portion of the projection tube 22.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown a preferred form of projectileP. The projectile P includes a shaft 28 formed at its lower portion with a pluralityof guide fins 30. The upper end of the shaft 28 is provided with a head section 32.- A cap 34 for the head section 32 is removably telescopically slidably disposed upon the head section. This construction provides a message cavity 36 which may receive a message or the like (not shown) to be transported by the projectile P when the cap is raised to its dotted outline position of this figure. It will be understood that the cap 34 is returned to its solid outline position of FIGURE 4 after the message is deposited in cavity 36.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the fins 30 of the projectile P have a width slightly less than the inner diameter of the projection tube 22. The lower end of the projection tube 22 is provided with a radially inwardly extending neck 38 to restrain thezprojectile P against downward movement relative to the projection tube.

In the operation of the aforedescribed apparatus, the projectile P is dropped through the upper end of the projection tube 22 with the fins 30 entering said tube first. The projectile P will drop intothe lower portion of the projection tube with the fins 30 thereafter being restrained against further downward movement by the neck 38. At this time the inner cylinder I will-be elevated relative to the outer cylinder 0 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the inner and outer cylinders are manually caused to undergo relative longitudinal movement together. Such movement will create an increase in air pressure as the element 24 moves towards the bottom closure 12 of the inner cylinder. The increase in air pressure within .the inner cylinder is immediately transferred to the projection tube 22, with the air velocity within said tube being far greater than the air velocity within the outer cylinder 0. Accordingly, the projectile P will be forced upwardly out of the projection tube 22 at a high rate of speed. In practice, it has been found possible to fire the projectile P distances of .300 to 400 feet in a trajectory at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. At a generally level trajectory the projectile has been shot up a distance of approximately feet. Moreover, the projectile P may be aimed with considerable accuracy.

It will be apparent that the provision of baflfle element 24 in the lower portion of the inner cylinder I effects a much more rapid build-up of air pressure within the outer cylinder 0 than if such element was not provided and the interior of the inner cylinder I were in free communication with the interior of the outer cylinder.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 there is shown a second form of projectile P which may be substituted for the projectile P shown in the preceding figures. It will be apparent that the projectile P has a configuration generally conforming to that of an actual space vehicle.

The inner and outer cylinders O and I may conveniently be manufactured from paperboard, while the projectile tube 22 and the projectiles P and P may be formed of a flexible synthetic plastic.

Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description without de- Patented May 17, 1966 3,251,353 3 4 parting from the spirit of the present invention or the an inner cylinder longitudinally slidably disposed withscope of the following claims. in said outer cylinder, with substantially the entire I claim: cylindrical outer surface of said inner cylinder being 1. A projection device and projectile therefor, comprissimultaneously engageable with substantially the ening: 5 tire inner surface of said outer cylinder;

a vertical elongated outer cylinder that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end;

an elongated inner cylinder longitudinally slidably disposed within said outer cylinder, with substantially a projection tube extending through said inner cylinder,

the upper portion of said tube being rigidly supported by the upper portion of said inner cylinder;

means extending between the lower portion of said prothe entire cylindrical outer surface of said inner cylmeans extending between the lower portion of said projection tube and the lower portion of said inner cylinder providing a combined air battle and rigid jection tube and the lower portion of said inner cylinder being simultaneously engageable with substaninder providing a'combined air bafile and rigid suptially the entire inner surface of said outer cylinder; port for the lower portion of said tube;

a projection tube extending through said inner cylinder, projectile slidably disposable within said projection the upper portion of said tube being rigidly supporttube to be propelled from the lower portion of said ed by the upper portion of said inner cylinder; tube upwardly out of said tube as said inner and outer cylinders undergo relative longitudinal movement together, said projectile having a head formed with a removable cap that defines a message cavity;

support for the lower portion of said tube;

a projectile slidably disposable within said projection tube to be propelled from the lower portion of said tube upwardly out of said tube as said inner and outer cylinders undergo relative longitudinal movement together;

and radially inwardly extending means on the lower 5 end of said projection tube to restrain the lower portion of said projectile against downward movement relative to said tube.

2. A projection device and projectile therefor, comprising:

a vertical elongated outer cylinder that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end;

an elongated inner cylinder longitudinally slidably disposed within said outer cylinder, with substantially the entire cylindrical outer surface of said inner cylinder being simultaneously engageable with substantially the entire inner surface of said outer cylinder;

a projection tube extending through said inner cylinder, mder PTOVldlng a conlblned alf baffle and g d supthe upper portion of said tube being rigidly supported P for the lower Portloll of Said tube; by the upper portion of said inner cylinder; a projectile slidably disposable within said projection means extending between the lower portion of said protube to be propelled from the lower portion of said and radially inwardly extending retainer on-the lower end of said projection tube to restrain the lower portion of said projectile against downward movement relative to said tube.

4. .A projection device and projectile therefor, comprising: 4

a vertical elongated outer cylinder that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end;

an elongated inner cylinder longitudinally slidably disposed within said outer cylinder, with substantially the entire cylindrical outer surface of said inner cylinder being simultaneously engageable with substantially the entire inner surface of said outer cylinder;

a projection tube extending through said inner cylinder,

the upper portion of said tube being rigidly supported by the upper portion of said inner cylinder;

means extending between the lower portion of said projection tube and the lower portion of said inner cyljection tube and the lower portion of said inner cylinder providing a combined air baffie and rigid support for the lower portion of said tube;

projectile slidably disposable Within said projection tube to be propelled from the lower portion of said tube upwardly out of said tube as said inner and outer cylinders undergo relative longitudinal moveand a radially inwardly extending neck formed on the lower end of said projection tube engageable with the guide fins of said projectile to restrain said projectile against downward movement relative to said tube.

ment together, said projectile having guide fins at its rear most portion;

and a radially inwardly extending neck formed on the lower end of said projection tube engageable with the guide fins of said projectile to restrain said projectile against downward movement relative to said tube.

3. A projection device and projectile therefor, comprising:

a vertical elongated outer cylinder that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end;

No references cited.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROJECTION DEVICE ANAD PROJECTILE THEREFOR, COMPRISING: A VERTICAL ELONGATED OUTER CYLINDER THAT IS OPEN AT ITS TOP END AND CLOSED AT ITS BOTTOM END; AN ELONGATED INNER CYLINDER LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITH SAID OUTER CYLINDER, WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNER CYLINDER BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE INNER SURFACE OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER; A PROJECTION TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID INNER CYLINDER, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID TUBE BEING RIGIDLY SUPPORTED BY THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID INNER CYLINDER; MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PROJECTION TUBE AND THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID INNER CYLINDER PROVIDING A COMBINED AIR BAFFLE AND RIGID SUPPORT FOR THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID TUBE; A PROJECTILE SLIDABLY DISPOSEABLE WITHIN SAID PROJECTION TUBE TO BE PROPELLED FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID TUBE UPWARDLY OUT OF SAID TUBE AS SAID INNER AND OUTER CYLINDERS UNDERGO RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT TOGETHER; AND RADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING MEANS ON THE LOWER END OF SAID PROJECTION TUBE TO RESTRAIN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PROJECTILE AGAINST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID TUBE. 